Now it can be told without attracting the usual storm of denials. Madhuri Dixit-Nene, who is currently in the US, is pregnant.

The actress who ruled the Mumbai film marquee in the 1990s and then opted for marriage to an NRI heart-specialist doctor Shreeram Nene, is two-months pregnant with their first child.

According to sources in the film and tele-world, Madhuri was expected to be in the city last month to shoot some more episodes for the TV show Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai which she hosts, organising on-the-spot matches for a wide variety of couples. Her visit was cancelled as the show did not earn the expected TRP ratings.

Hence Madhuris return to Mumbai last month, where her parents stay in a Juhu flat, was cancelled. She has finished her pending film assignments but is constantly being offered several new projects. Her performance in the role of courtesan Chandramukhi in Devdas was universally considered to be one of the finest of the year.

As soon as Madhuri agreed to an arranged marriage with Nene some two years ago, the film industry had conjectured whether she would quit or continue to work.

Madhuri and Dr Nene are now based in Colorado, Nevada. Information that the stork will visit them next year reached this office from NRI sources in America and film industry circles in Mumbai. No official announcement has been made by the Dixit family yet. Congratulations are in order to the Nenes for the fairy-tale development in their neat and orderly life.Madhuri Dixit is pregnant !